South Bend academy lets them learn real crime scene investigation

South Bend academy lets them learn real crime scene investigation

He spread his fingers and let it drip to the ground, covering a footprint with a bright white puddle.

This is how real-life crime scene technicians make casts of footprints, crime scene technician Cpl. David Modlin said: slowly and carefully in order to preserve evidence.

For 17-year-old Benion, it was a hands-on Â? and on-hands Â? demonstration of police technique and a glimpse of what he hopes may be his future profession.

Â?ThereÂ?s a lot more work involved in investigations than people think,Â? he said.

Benion was one of about 30 local teenagers participating in the South Bend Police DepartmentÂ?s third annual Youth Student Police Academy.

The weeklong academy, which is free, ended Friday with a cookout and a crime scene exercise on the grounds of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36 southwest of the city.

Technicians from the departmentÂ?s evidence recovery team set up a mock crime scene, a convenience store robbery. Students collected evidence and sent it to the real crime lab.

Earlier lessons had covered everything from making videos for Crime Stoppers to proper use of Tasers and police dogs. There were demonstrations of traffic stops and the dangers of drunks as well as a tour of the high-tech crime lab.

Lt. Richard Powers, the departmentÂ?s community policing coordinator, said the youth academy is a spinoff of programs offered to adults and senior citizens.

ItÂ?s intended both to improve the departmentÂ?s image with young people and prompt them to consider careers in law enforcement, Powers said.

Â?ItÂ?s a comfortable setting,Â? he said during the cookout at the F.O.P. lodge. Â?WeÂ?re out here in the middle of the woods having a ball.Â?

Brittany Brown, a 16-year-old student at Brandywine High School in Niles whoÂ?s spending the summer in South Bend, said she plans to join the military for two years and then pursue a career as an investigator.

Her interest in police work was sparked by the TV show Â?CSI,Â? a program that the several officers teaching the academy pointed out paints an unrealistic picture of police work.

Â?The show still sparks my interest, but itÂ?s really so much more work than they show (on TV),Â? she said. Â?They do stuff in two minutes that takes hours.Â?

Rebecca Lucier, 14, said the academy was a chance for high school students to get to know police in a relaxed atmosphere of mutual understanding.

Â?When kids donÂ?t understand what theyÂ?re trying to do or when they see an officer take somebody down, it makes it seem like theyÂ?re out to get you,Â? she said. Â?This lets you see that theyÂ?re out to help you.Â?

Rebecca said she thinks the academy also helps the officers see young people in a better light.

Â?They see us as people,Â? she said. Â?To get respect, you have to give respect.Â?

Cpl. Tomar Thomas was one of several school resource officers serving as academy instructors. He said getting to know kids personally pays off.

Â?TheyÂ?re 100 percent more likely to work with us, whether they like us or not,Â? he said. Â?They know they can trust us.Â?

The students received certificates and T-shirts at the end of the program.

One participant received his certificate at Memorial Hospital.

Powers visited Ransom Muston, a Riley High School senior, in his hospital room.

Muston, who is on a waiting list for a four-organ transplant, became sick with an infection Wednesday afternoon and had to miss the last two days of the program.

Powers assured him heÂ?d be welcome to join the departmentÂ?s cadet program after he turned 18.